
Over de Canal Parade
Queer Amsterdam & Pride Amsterdam
"Roze Zaterdag"
“Roze Zaterdag” was the Dutch response to what had begun abroad following the Stonewall Uprising. That took place between June 28 and July 3, 1969 in New York City. This gave rise to the first Pride Marches. In Amsterdam, people wanted to show support for the developments taking place in the United States, where Anita Bryant had started a campaign in the American city of Miami. The rights given to members of the LGBTQIA+ community went way too far for her. That they were given the same rights as everyone else, i.e. equal treatment, was a thorn in her side. According to Bryant, the law that regulated equal treatment would infringe on the protection of children. A statement that would be repeated in the years that followed. Even to this day.
It was the International Lesbian Alliance that was responsible for organising “Roze Zaterdag.” In doing so, it wanted to show support for the fight against hatred and misunderstanding in the US. The event was named International Gay Liberation and Solidarity Day. This name was changed to “Roze Zaterdag” two years later. The reason had everything to do with the day this all took place. That was on the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. So Holy Saturday (in Dutch: “Stille Zaterdag”). People decided to demonstrate on that very day because of statements made by Bishop Gijsen of Roermond in response to his statements about gays.
Lees meer over die actie via de onderstaande link in het Nederlands.
From the 1980s, the location for “Roze Zaterdag” changed. In 1994, it was Amsterdam’s turn again and this day coincided with the EuroPride. This was not a very big success. However, in 1992 a bid book was submitted to the organisers for the Gay Games and, perhaps in optimism, they included a nice proposal: a boat parade.
Chastity Statement
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Want to know exactly what will happen during the Canal Parade? Then check out this page.

Source: Unsplash.